POST FALLS - School's out for the summer, but North Idaho College student Page Davisson went back to class on Tuesday.

Ironically, the classroom was Schoolhouse Rock, the newest and most beginner-friendly climbing rock at Q'emiln Park.

Davisson had climbed indoor features before, but Schoolhouse Rock was her first outdoor rock climbing experience.

It was a great place to start.

The 25-foot rock in the Upper Fifth Canyon area of the park's trail system has been worked on by local climbing clubs for the past two years.

Local climbers Rusty Baillie and Richard LaFrancis were Davisson's instructors.

"It was a little intimidating at first, but the tips they gave me really helped and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be," said Davisson after giving four routes on the rock a try.

Davisson, who is taking a rock climbing class at NIC, said the experience gave her confidence to want to explore the sport more.

"It showed me how easy it is to do with another person," she said. "This park is beautiful, and it's something different to do with a friend."

That's the reaction Baillie, LaFrancis and others who developed Schoolhouse Rock want.

Q'emiln Park features about 100 climbs and most of them are geared toward intermediate or advanced climbers.

Schoolhouse Rock - since it's not very high and is around a 70-degree angle - offers an option for beginners and families to learn, hence the name. Most of the park's climbs are either vertical or overhanging.

"Q'emiln offers some of the nicest rock climbs in the Northwest, but it's a painful place to learn," Baillie said. "With Schoolhouse Rock, you can move easily and it's at a low enough angle to where you can stand on your feet if need be."

LaFrancis said some beginners become frustrated with the sport if they struggle early on. Schoolhouse Rock has eight anchors at the top named after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

"It's a great learning tool," LaFrancis said. "If you make a mistake, it's not a lethal situation (as far as falling too far). You just dust yourself off and get back on the wall."

Climbing clubs such as the Spokane Mountaineers, Kootenai Klimbers and Outdoor Pursuits at NIC, in cooperation with the city of Post Falls, cleared the rock of vegetation to develop the climb. They've also replaced poorly bolted anchors at other climbs over the years.

"The city has been extremely cooperative in making the area safe and a regional destination," LaFrancis said. "It's wilderness in our own backyard."

LaFrancis is also intrigued that a historic road - referred to as Pioneer Wagon Road - also traverses through the gut of the trail system. It adds to the natural, rocky setting.

For information on the Q'emiln climbs, email Baillie at baillie2@frontier.com.

Climbing guidebook

Copies of "Northwest Passage," a guidebook to rock climbing in the area, are available at the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department for $10.

Climbing guidebook

Copies of "Northwest Passage," a guidebook to rock climbing in the area, are available at the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department for $10.